Luz Church , Mylapore, Madras



 Luz Church or Our Lady of Light . This church is celebrating 500 years this year. It was built in 1516 as per a tablet in the church walls. After the fall of Constantinople in 1451 the Europeans wanted to find a sea route to India since they needed the spices. The Portuguese were in the forefront and many voyages were made to find a sea route around Cape of Good Hope. Ultimately Vasco da Gama  reached Calicut in 1498. The Franciscan  missionaries used the sea route to reach India to spread the Gospel.  Five missionaries who were lost in the sea due to cyclone prayed mother mary. They saw a light in the sky and followed it. The light disappeared nearly 2 km from the sea near the  present church.  They built a church there as a thanks giving to God.  The church was called Nossa Senhora da Luz in Portuguese. The church suffered heavy damage during Golconda invasion in 1673 and during Hyder Ali invasion in 1782. It is also called Kattukoil in Tamil.

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